Drilling bolt holes

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use in locating and aligning holes for bolts in bridge parapets and the like consists of a flat plate bearing adjustable guides, adjustable locating means and power-operated clamping means.

Umted States Patent 1 1 [111 3,711,215 Brown 1 Jan. 16, 1973 [54]DRILLING BOLT HOLES [56] References Cited [76] Inventor: John VincentBrown, Gartenstrasse UNITED STATES PATENTS 2, Zug, Switzerland Filed: J1971 2,602,238 7/1952 Wellman ,.408/lO X 1 PP 149,733 PrimaryExaminer-Gil Weidenfeld Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & OsannForeign Application Priority Data June 5, 1970 Great Britain ..27,33 H[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for use in locating and aligning holes for [52]US. Cl ..408/l08, 173/32 bolts in bridge parapets and the like consistsof a flat [51] Int. Cl. ..B23b 49/00 plate bearing adjustable guides,adjustable locating [58] Field of Search ..408/108, 1 15, 173/32, meansand powepoperated Clamping means 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH16 1975 3. 711 215 SHEET 2 OF 2 DRILLING BOLT HOLES This inventionrelates to apparatus for locating drilling positions for bolt holes andfor controlling the depth of drilling and accuracy of drilling such boltholes.

In recent years, a need has grown up for constructional fixing bolts ofhigh strength for use in fixing devices such as vehicle crash barriersonto concrete bases. These fixing bolts should have the requisitestrength, should be easily anchored in the base material (usuallyconcrete, stonework or the like), and should be easily replaceable inthe event of damage or destruction. In addition to these requirements,such fixing bolts should conform to the relevant design specificationslaid down in respect of the particular use involved. For example, boltsfor bridge parapet barriers in the United Kingdom should conform to therequirements laid down in the Ministry of Transport Technical Memorandum(Bridges) No. B.E.5., Design of Highway Bridge Parapets. Similarstandards apply in other countries of the world, and there is a generaltendency to increase the necessary requirements of standardspecifications in the building and construction industries.

Many prior attempts have been made to provide fixing bolt systems whichfulfil these requirements, but the known types suffer from a number ofdisadvantages. One particular disadvantage of known types is thenecessity for complete replacement of the bolt fixing in the event ofdamage thereto, for example, if a vehicle hits a crash barrier, theposts of which are anchored with fixing bolts.

Our earlier copending application discloses fixing bolts which avoidthese disadvantages, and methods of fixing structures to substratesusing them.

The type of fixture in our copending application has a large number ofadvantages, both as regards installation and use. The fixing bolts maybe installed simply by drilling a hole in a substrate of suitablediameter, and then setting part of the bolt therein, e.g. by means of acementitious grout or mortar, or by means of a cured resin system. Thepreferred fixing methods are those described in British PatentSpecification 1,127,913. Each fixing bolt is installed separately andthus if necessary, each bolt can be separately replaced. Installation isquick and easy, and does not entail, as known systems do, for example,locating the bolt in situ prior to casting the concrete base around it.The preferred fixing method of our copending application referred toabove is also advantageous from the point of view of high strength,speed, and efficiency even in extreme conditions of temperature orhumidity.

It will be appreciated that in order to secure the maximum advantage forthe use of fixing bolts as aforesaid, and generally in the fixture ofbolts for the purposes indicated, it is important that several boltholes should be preformed by drilling into the concrete or stone base atpositions precisely located relative to one another, of the same depthand all parallel (usually all vertical). It is an object of the presentinvention to provide apparatus for use in the achievement of theseobjects.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for usein the location of holes in the upper surface of a stone, concrete orlike structure, the apparatus comprising a plate having a plurality ofguides extending vertically there-through, power clamping means forclamping the plate to said structure, locating devices adapted tocontact the surface of the structure, and means for independentlyvertically adjusting the position of each of the locating devices andeach of the guides relative to the plate so that the locating devicesand guides may make contact with the upper surface of the structure, theplate remaining horizontal.

The apparatus is of particular value for use in the location of boltholes in the upper surface of an upstanding block of stone, concrete orthe like, e.g., a parapet of a bridge construction. In that case theapparatus may be made to straddle the block, clamps being provided atthe sides of the block. When the block is a bridge parapet thisarrangement avoids any danger to personnel which might otherwise arisedue to their having to work beyond the margin provided by the parapet.The slope of the parapet (if any), in either of the directions at rightangles, is accommodated by the adjustable locating devices, preferablywheels, and guides, preferably in the form of tubes.

By means of the correct use of the apparatus of the invention, it isensured that the drilled holes are correctly spaced relative to oneanother and all parallel (generally vertical). The relative arrangementof the guides may vary to suit the circumstances. Often, the guides willbe four in number and arranged in the form of a rectangle, but there maybe more or less guides and the arrangement may be, for example, thatthey lie on the corners of a triangle, or around an oval or circle, orabout a semicircle.

A particular embodiment of apparatus according to the present inventionis illustrated by way of an example, in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the apparatus in plan,

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the apparatus in elevation.

Referring to these drawings the apparatus comprises a plate 1 mounted onhollow bars 2. The plate is provided with four screw-threaded guidetubes 3 which, by use of the thread can be adjusted in position so thatmore or less of the tube projects above the plate I (and consequentlyless or more projects below the plate I).

Secured to the plate, at its corners are four sleeve elements 4 withineach of which is housed a member carrying a wheel 5, the arrangementbeing such in each case that the location of the height of the wheelsrelative to the plate 1 may be adjusted by means of a screw control 6.

Mounted on the hollow bars 2 extending on one side of the plate I is anassembly providing a positioning plate 7 secured to the end of ahydraulically or pneumatically controlled piston 8 in a hydraulic orpneumatic cylinder 9. The feed lines to this cylinder consist of a mainfeed 10 to a valve mechanism 11 mounted on the extension of the bars 2on the other side of the plate 1 and thence, through the hollow bars 2via hose 12 to the ends of the cylinder 9.

Also mounted by brackets 13 on the hollow bars 2 is a fixed positioningplate 14. A spirit level 15 is provided on the plate 1.

The apparatus is illustrated in the position in which it would be usedon a coping 16 which sloped upwards to the right, the coping 16 beingindicated in dotted outline section. The positioning (clamping) plates 7and 14 grip the sides of the copying 16 and the wheels are adjusted torest on the top of the coping 16 while keeping the plate 1 horizontal.Before drilling commences the guide tubes 3 are screwed down to thesurface of 5 the coping. It will be appreciated that since the guidetubes are vertical the holes drilled will also be vertical.

Four holes having been drilled the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure maybe released, the positioning plates 7 and 14 thus allowed to separateand the device rolled forward on its wheels 5 to a next adjacentposition for the drilling of a further set of holes, requiring only suchfurther adjustment as may be dictated by a change in slope of thesurface of the coping.

Thus, by means of the device a series of holes may be drilled along thesurface of a coping, e.g., to accept bolts holding a crash-barrier,which are regularly spaced, and all vertically aligned, thereby greatlyfacilitating the erection of a crash barrier or the like on the coping.

1 claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for use in the location of holes in the upper surface ofstone or concrete structures, the apparatus comprising a plate, aplurality of guides supported by and extending vertically through theplate,

power clamping means for clamping the plate to the structure, locatingdevices mounted on and extending vertically through the plate andadapted to contact the surface of the structure, means for verticallyadjusting the position of each of the locating devices and means forvertically adjusting the position of each of the guides relative to theplate so that the locating devices and guides may make contact with theupper surface of the structure to position the plate in a horizontalplane.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the power clamping means areadapted to engage the vertical sides of the structure.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are four guide membersarranged in a rectangle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein screw thread adjustment meansare provided for the vertical adjustment of both locating devices andguides.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the guide members are tubes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the power clamping means arehydraulically operated.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locating devices includeswheels that engage the upper surface of the structure.

1. Apparatus for use in the location of holes in the upper surface ofstone or concrete structures, the apparatus comprising a plate, aplurality of guides supported by and extending vertically through theplate, power clamping means for clamping the plate to the structure,locating devices mounted on and extending vertically through the plateand adapted to contact the surface of the structure, means forvertically adjusting the position of each of the locating devices andmeans for vertically adjusting the position of each of the guidesrelative to the plate so that the locating devices and guides may makecontact with the upper surface of the structure to position the plate ina horizontal plane.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the powerclamping means are adapted to engage the vertical sides of thestructure.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are fourguide members arranged in a rectangle.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein screw thread adjustment means are provided for the verticaladjustment of both locating devices and guides.
 5. Apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein the guide members are tubes.
 6. Apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein the power clamping means are hydraulically operated.7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the locating devices includeswheels that engage the upper surface of the structure.